I. First Appearance.

1.  He is an extraordinary-looking little gentleman. 2.  Nose,—­large and slightly brass-colored. 3.  Cheeks,—­round and very red. 4.  Eyes,—­twinkling under silky lashes. 5.  Mustaches,—­curled twice around. 6.  Hair,—­long and of a curious mixed pepper-and-salt color. 7.  Height,—­four feet six. 8.  Clothing: 
    a.  Cap,—­conical-pointed, four feet six inches (nearly).
    (1) Black feather, three feet long.
    b.  Doublet.
    c.  Coat,—­exaggerated swallow-tail.
    d.  Cloak,—­enormous, black, glossy-looking, eighteen feet long.

II.  Second Appearance (spinning on the globe of foam).

1.  Cap and all as before.

III.  Third Appearance.

1.  The drinking-mug.
a.  The handle of two wreaths of golden hair descending and mixing
       with the beard and whiskers.
    b.  Face,—­small, fierce, reddish-gold.
    c.  Nose,—­red.
    d.  Eyes,—­sharp.

2.  The King.
    a.  Height,—­one and a half feet; a golden dwarf.
    b.  Legs,—­little and yellow.
    c.  Face,—­as before.
    d.  Doublet,—­slashed, of spun gold, prismatic colors.
    e.  Hair,—­exquisitely delicate curls.
    f.  Features,—­coppery, fierce and determined in expression.

IV.  Fourth Appearance.

1.  Same as in third appearance.

V. Different Forms the King Assumes: 

1.  To Hans: 
a.  A small dog, dying of thirst; tongue hanging out, jaws dry;
   almost lifeless; ants crawling about its lips and throat.
b.  A fair child, nearly lifeless; breast heaving with thirst; eyes
   closed; lips parched and burning.
   c.  An old man; sunken features; deadly pale and expressing despair.

2.  To Schwartz: 
    a.  The fair child as it appeared to Hans.
    b.  The old man who appeared to Hans.
    c.  Brother Hans exhausted and begging for water.

3.  To Gluck: 
    a.  An old man leaning on a staff.
    b.  A little child panting by the roadside.
    c.  A little dog gasping for breath, which changes into the king.

There are a great many things besides vivid descriptions that make The King of the Golden River a fine story.  But it is not a good idea to study any selection in literature too long or too hard, for in so doing we are likely to lose our interest in the selection or even to take a dislike to it.  You know if we look too long at a beautiful sunset our eyes grow weary and we seem to lose our power to admire it, but when the next evening comes, with another glorious sunset, we are just as much interested in it as ever.  So it is with reading.  If a thing is really brilliant, we may look at it so long that our minds become tired; but we can leave it for a while and come back to it with renewed interest.

Accordingly, when we have studied the descriptions of The King of the Golden River we have probably done enough for one day or one time, at least.  Some other time we shall enjoy returning to it and finding new things.  For instance, we might like to see how many beautiful sentences, or what great thoughts we can find well expressed.